Fender CuNiFe Wide Range Humbucker vs. Vintera Alnico Wide Range Pi

[gregtulipp]

Welcome to the forum!

Did the bridge sound better to you before or after Mark adjusted the height and pole pieces?

After Mark adjusted the height and pole pieces (tan shirt), the bridge sounded clearer, but not any less harsh. This harshness was way more evident to me when Mark played clean (8:50) than when he played distorted (9:17). To be honest, after listening to the stock bridge pickup clean again (8:41), it too is harsh. This is all very interesting to me, because I want a Telecaster Deluxe and now am wondering what to put in the bridge position. The CuNiFe pickup is a clear winner in the neck position - and it is now sold that way on the American Original 70's Telecaster Custom.

 

[GilmourD]

After Mark adjusted the height and pole pieces (tan shirt), the bridge sounded clearer, but not any less harsh. This harshness was way more evident to me when Mark played clean (8:50) than when he played distorted (9:17). To be honest, after listening to the stock bridge pickup clean again (8:41), it too is harsh. This is all very interesting to me, because I want a Telecaster Deluxe and now am wondering what to put in the bridge position. The CuNiFe pickup is a clear winner in the neck position - and it is now sold that way on the American Original 70's Telecaster Custom.

Lemme ask this... How do you compare that harshness to a standard Tele bridge pickup?

 

[gregtulipp]

I

Lemme ask this... How do you compare that harshness to a standard Tele bridge pickup?

I only have limited examples to refer to, and I'd only be relying on my memory, instead of a proper A to B comparison, but here it goes. From my memory of 70's and 80's Telecasters played through a blonde Bassman, the 80's vintage reissue Telecaster pickups did not sound harsh or thin to me. They sounded twangy and full. The 80's Telecaster standard's pickup sounded as harsh as the CuNiFe bridge pickup in the above shootout. It was twangier though. The one original Telecaster Custom (black, early 70's) that I used to play had a somewhat harsh, somewhat thin, microphonic bridge pickup that was nevertheless twangy and somewhat interesting. I did like the CuNiFe pickup on that guitar. And I also liked the shape of the neck.